Evaluating the In Situ Elastic Modulus of Foamed Glass Aggregate Using Static Plate Load Tests

This paper describes the first known static plate load (SPL) testing program performed on compacted foamed glass aggregate (FGA) fill produced in the US. The testing programs consisted of 14 SPL tests performed on approximately 610 mm (24 in.) thick compacted test fills prepared under controlled conditions. A portion of the tests included either a 1.9 kPa (40 psf) or 7.2 kPa (150 psf) pressure applied to the top of the fill to simulate the confinement provided by soil or crushed stone typically placed between the FGA and the pavement or floor slab. The results show that the modulus of FGA is increased by the influence of the surface pressure and that the diameter of the plate can have an effect on the results. This paper provides the details of the equipment, procedures applied to SPL testing of FGA, and interpretation of the results.